Address by President Shri APJ Abdul Kalam at the Friendship Year
Commemorative Function during the Visit of His Excellency Mr. Hu Jintao,
President of the People's Republic of China, 21 November 2006
(New Delhi; November 21, 2006)
India-China Friendship
will lead to World Peace
Dear friends, it is indeed a beautiful day to commemorate the friendship year of
the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of India in the presence of His
Excellency Mr. Hu Jintao, the President of the People’s Republic of China. While
I am with you, I would like to recall two scenes, one in India and another in
China. These two episodes indicate the strong bonds between our two nations for
many centuries which are continuing and which will continue.
Ancient Nalanda University and Hieun Tsang
The first scene, I would like to capture is a scene from the Nalanda Ancient
University in India. I visited Nalanda and spent a full day there. This was a
very active center of learning and research during the period between 5th to
12th Century A.D., in theology, philosophy and religion. Nearly 2000 teachers
and 10000 students from many countries converged there and were studying and
researching on how to elevate human minds. I saw the areas of Nalanda where the
discourses took place, the remnants of hermitages of monks and teachers. Hieun
Tsang a famous Chinese philosopher and historian who came to India in the 5th
century A.D. and stayed in Nalanda for 12 years as a student and a teacher and
studied and researched the social and political conditions. His contemporaries
were great thinkers like Nagarjuna, Dharmapal, and Aryadeva. Hieun Tsang has
left detailed description of excellence of education in Nalanda. There is a
memorial hall built in his memory. This indicates how educational connectivity
in philosophy and theology existed between India and China, even during 5th
Century A.D.
Dr. D.S. Kotnis in China
Now I would like to describe the second scene in
China. Dr. D.S. Kotnis had worked as the Director of Dr. Bethune International
Peace Hospital in Shec-Zia Zhong in China. Dr. Kotnis along with four other
doctors were sent as the Indian Medical Mission Team in 1938 for providing
medical cover to the people affected by Japanese invasion of China. All except
Dr. Kotnis returned to India safely. Dr. Kotnis stayed in China for five years
working in mobile clinics to treat wounded soldiers. Dr. Kotnis joined the
8-route army and worked 72 hours at a stretch for treating the war causalities.
During his mission, Dr. Kotnis was a lecturer at the Dr. Bethune Hygiene School
and the President of Dr. Bethune International Peace Hospital along with the
Canadian Dr. Norman Bethune; Dr. Kotnis continues to be remembered by the
Chinese people.
Unity of Minds
The deep historical and cultural association that our ancient civilizations
share has made rich contributions in shaping the development of humanity and
gives a unique dimension to India-China relations in contemporary times. The
remarkable growth and diversification of India–China relations in recent years
are a matter of satisfaction and gives optimism for the future of our relations.
Today the footprints of India and China are increasingly visible and have made
an impact on the global landscape in diverse areas. Our common pursuit of a
peaceful environment for the paramount task of achieving national construction
and prosperity adds great values to the India–China partnership.
The tradition of unity of minds, which we are
building in India and China, can definitely enrich our society through
technology, trade and business and above all a strategic partnership. The more,
our two nations come closer and work together for the prosperity of the people,
definitely not only India and China will prosper but also this unique trend will
lead to prosperity and peace in the world.
The commemoration of the India–China Friendship year is truly a tribute to the
distance traversed, through friendly exchanges and contacts, by two nations
through the labyrinths of time.
My best wishes to all the participants from China and India for success in their
mission of reinforcing the strategic and cooperative partnership for peace and
prosperity of the planet Earth.
May God bless you.